Lyla Lindsey
Australia's history as a penal colony is well-known. In the late 18th century, the British government sent fleets of ships to Australia carrying convicts, military personnel, and civilians to establish colonies. The first fleet arrived in 1788, and over time, two major convict colonies were established: New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land (later Tasmania). These colonies were predominantly male, with convict women constituting only 15% of the population. The convicts provided a source of free labour, working in various industries and contributing to the construction of roads, buildings, and infrastructure. The treatment of convicts was often harsh, and they were frequently assigned as indentured labour. However, some convicts, like William Chopin and Daniel Connor, went on to become successful and influential members of society. By the mid-19th century, there was growing pressure to abolish transportation to Australia as a form of punishment, and the practice was gradually phased out. Today, Australia has transformed its past as a penal colony into a source of pride, with many landmarks and cultural artefacts remaining from that era.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of colonisation | 1788 |
| Number of convicts on board | 775 |
| Number of convict women | 15% |
| Year transportation to the colony of New South Wales was abolished | 1 October 1850 |
| Year of the abolition of transportation to Van Diemen's Land | 1853 |
| Year transportation to Australia ended | 1868 |
| Year Macquarie changed the colony from a place of punishment for convicts | 1810 |
| Year Macquarie's changes ended | 1821 |
| Year Swan River became a third penal colony | 1850 |
| Year of the end of the convict era | 1868 |
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What You'll Learn
The Industrial Revolution's impact on crime
The Industrial Revolution had a significant impact on crime in what would become a civilised Australia. The economic displacement caused by the Industrial Revolution led to an increase in petty crimes, such as theft, which accounted for around 75% of all recorded crimes. This placed immense pressure on the government to find alternatives to overcrowded jails. The social and political changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution also contributed to the rise in crime rates, with new laws creating new crimes and greater opportunities for criminal activity.
The expansion of trade and industry during the Industrial Revolution created more targets for criminals, such as warehouses, factories, banks, and homes with valuable goods. The growth of cities provided the ideal environment for criminal activity to thrive, with crowded streets, alleyways, and lodging houses making it easier for criminals to evade detection. The increase in population also meant more potential offenders and victims. These factors contributed to a general rise in the crime rate, particularly property crimes, as the gap between the rich and poor widened.
The Industrial Revolution also saw a rise in juvenile crime, with concerns growing rapidly in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. London magistrate Patrick Colquhoun's pamphlets from the 1790s detailed the activities of gangs of boys active along the Thames riverfront, causing significant financial losses for merchants. While juvenile offenders were often sentenced to death, transportation to penal colonies, particularly Australia, became a common punishment during the Industrial Revolution. This practice, which had been ongoing since the 17th century, helped meet labour shortages in British colonies and provided some convicts with the opportunity to marry and start families.
The impact of the Industrial Revolution on crime led to significant changes in policing and punishment. The fear of rising crime rates among upper and middle-class citizens influenced the laws and policies of the time, including the decision to establish penal colonies in Australia. The colonisation of Australia, initially intended as a place of punishment, eventually evolved into an environment where reformed convicts could prosper. This transformation reflected the changing attitudes and approaches to crime and punishment during the Industrial Revolution.
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The British view of Indigenous Australians
The British colonisation of Australia began in 1788 with the arrival of the First Fleet, a colonisation party of convicts, military, and civilian personnel under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip, who was appointed Governor of the new colony. The fleet landed at Sydney Cove in Australia, though the penal colony itself was established at Botany Bay. The arrival of the British marked the beginning of 'white settlement' and had a monumental impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their lifestyle, and their native lands.
Before the arrival of the British, Indigenous Australians belonged to hundreds of different nations or groups, each with its own language or dialect, laws, beliefs, and customs. They lived as hunter-gatherers, with a deep spiritual connection to their Country, and no concept of land ownership. The British viewed the Indigenous Australians as uncivilised, seeing the land as free to claim, referring to it as 'terra nullius', meaning land belonging to no one. They believed that European culture was superior and that they could define the world in their terms.
The British government instructed the colonists to respect Indigenous rights, but as the colony spread inland from the coast, competition for land and resources bred conflict. Governor Phillip ordered the capture of an Aboriginal man named Arabanoo in December 1788. Arabanoo was held as a prisoner but became friendly with the colonists, learning English and adopting some British customs. However, he died just a month after being freed in April 1789. In November 1789, two more Aboriginal men, Bennelong and Colebee, were captured. Colebee soon escaped, but Bennelong stayed and developed a friendship with Governor Phillip, even travelling with him to England in 1792 to meet King George III. Despite these instances of friendship, violent conflict between the colonists and Indigenous Australians was common, with Aboriginal people angered by the invasion of their Country. One of the earliest incidents of Aboriginal resistance happened in May 1788, when two Europeans were killed near Rushcutters Bay in what is now a suburb of Sydney.
The consequences of colonisation on Indigenous Australians were devastating. It is estimated that between 1788 and 1900, their numbers were reduced by as much as 90%. This drastic decline was due to several factors, including loss of traditional territory, exposure to new diseases, and violent conflict with colonists. The Indigenous people who survived saw their lives forever changed. They struggled to survive, with many dying from starvation and malnourishment as they were forced off their traditional lands. They also suffered various forms of trauma, including the banning of Indigenous gun ownership in New South Wales in 1840. Some Indigenous people allied with the colonists against other Indigenous people, and by the 1880s, many were employed in industries such as pearl hunting and cattle farming, though they were often abused and not paid wages.
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The establishment of penal colonies
On August 18, 1786, a decision was made to send a colonisation party of convicts, military, and civilian personnel to Botany Bay, under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip, who was appointed Governor. This marked the beginning of Australia's transformation from a penal colony to a civilised country. The colony was officially established in 1788, and it included 775 convicts on board six transport ships, of which only 15% were women.
The British viewed the Indigenous people of Australia as uncivilised and disregarded their claims to the land. They believed that the Indigenous people lacked a 'civilised' system of law or land ownership, and this justified their colonisation of the continent. The British established a system of law and governance that would shape Australia for centuries, often disregarding the legal rights of the First Nations people.
The convicts in the penal colonies worked as builders, labourers, clerks, nurses, and domestic servants, among other roles. They played a significant role in shaping the country, with many buildings, roads, and bridges constructed through convict labour. The colony of New South Wales, established in 1788, was initially a place of punishment for convicts, but under the leadership of Governor Macquarie from 1810 to 1821, it transformed into an environment where reformed convicts could prosper.
The penal colony in New South Wales was officially abolished in 1850, and transportation to Van Diemen's Land was ended in 1853. However, the impact of the convict era lasted well beyond, with landmarks like the Tasmania Convict Trail and the 11 Australian Convict Sites (now World Heritage Sites) still attracting travellers and locals alike.
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The contribution of convict labour
The transportation of convicts to Australia began in 1788 and lasted until 1868, with Britain sending approximately 171,000 male and female convicted felons to the colony. This process established the foundation of the European population in Australia and significantly contributed to the country's historical and cultural development.
The utilisation of convict labour played a crucial role in shaping Australia's economy and society. Initially, convicts were employed in various industries, bringing with them a diverse range of skills and trades. They worked on creating infrastructure, including the construction of the Convict Establishment in Western Australia, and were instrumental in the development of urban areas. The power of the colonial government to direct convict labour to rural employment encouraged colonists to venture beyond established settlements.
Convicts also made significant contributions to the cultural and intellectual life of the colonies. For example, convict George Barrington is credited with writing the prologue for the first theatrical play performed by convicts in Australia, titled "Our Country's Good". Additionally, convicts like William Cuffay, a prominent Black London Chartist leader, played a role in developing Australia's labour movement.
The presence of convict labour in Australia had a lasting impact on the country's society and self-perception. By the 20th century, attitudes towards convicts and their descendants became more accepting, with many Australians taking pride in discovering a convict in their lineage. The convict era has inspired numerous cultural works and has been a subject of interest for writers and historians studying Australia's national character.
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The end of convict transportation
The transportation of convicts to Australia was a direct result of the increasing crime rate in Britain during the Industrial Revolution, which greatly frightened the upper and middle classes. The government was under pressure to find an alternative to overcrowded jails. Britain also believed that the Indigenous people of Australia did not have a 'civilized' system of law or land ownership that the British were bound to respect, and so the land was cultivated for a penal colony.
The first penal colony was established in Sydney on Port Jackson, often called Botany Bay, in 1788. On 18 August 1786, a colonisation party of 775 convicts, military, and civilian personnel set sail under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip, who was appointed Governor of the new colony. Convicts constituted 85% of the total transportees and were overwhelmingly male. They worked as builders, labourers, clerks, nurses, and domestic servants, among other roles.
The convict era produced several notable figures, including Australia's most infamous outlaw, Ned Kelly, the country's first novelist, Henry Savery, and celebrated architect Francis Greenway. There are also numerous landmarks throughout the country that date back to this era, including the Tasmania Convict Trail and the 11 Australian Convict Sites, now World Heritage Sites.
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Frequently asked questions
The Industrial Revolution had led to an increase in petty crime, which resulted in overcrowding in British jails. Seeking an alternative to confinement, the British government chose Australia as the site of a penal colony.
Convicts provided a significant source of free labour for the settlers in Australia. They worked as builders, labourers, clerks, nurses, and domestic servants, among other occupations. Many buildings, roads, and bridges across the country were built by convict labour.
There was a shift in British public opinion regarding the harsh treatment of convicts in Australia. As a result, changes were made to the manner in which convicts were managed in the general population. The Probation System was introduced in the early 1840s, allowing convicts to work for wages within a set district after an initial period of working in public works gangs.
Convict transportation to Australia ended in 1868, with the last convict ship, the Hougoumont, arriving in Western Australia on January 10, 1868.
The discovery of gold in the Australian outback attracted a new wave of immigration, diluting the convict influence in Australia. Additionally, the country's economic growth and the emergence of celebrities and successful ex-convicts, such as Samuel Terry, contributed to a shift in perception. Australia's crime-ridden past, which was once a source of shame, is now embraced and viewed with pride by locals.
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